Chapter 17
Sunshine wasn't sure what to make of Acheron as they entered her loft. He was lean and humongously tall, and those eyes of his...
She shivered.
Something about them made it seem like he could see straight through her. Like he could hear every thought she possessed.
She dropped her backpack beside the couch and watched him walk a circle around her loft, as if making sure no one was in here, and yet she sensed it was more habit than a real need he had to verify that they were alone.
He had such a deadly, graceful swagger. A predator's lope. There was something intrinsically sexual about Acheron. Something compelling, seductive. Just being near him made her want to reach out and touch him.
It was as if he were putting off powerful pheromones, and at the same time, she was scared of him. He was like a lethal, beautiful animal in the wild that part of you wanted to cuddle, even while the other part of you knew he was just as likely to rip your arm off as he was to cuddle back.
He was magnetic and fierce and he made her want to run for the door.
When he spoke, the powerful sound of his voice made her jump, but what struck her most was how erotic his voice was. It was so deep that it rumbled and every syllable he spoke went down her spine like a seductive caress. She'd never been around anyone whose entire body and character appeared to have been made for no other purpose than to entice women sexually.
Boy, did it ever work.
"Your brother, Storm, is below, cleaning up. You might want to have him spend the night with you."
"How do you know Storm is below?"
"I just do."
She frowned-he was even more eerie than her grandmother. "Why aren't you staying?"
"Do you want me to?"
No, not really. But she didn't want to offend him. "You probably have things you need to do."
He gave her a tight-lipped smile that seemed to indicate that he had heard her real response. "Then, good night, Sunshine."
He started for the door.
"Acheron, wait."
He paused and looked at her.
"Am I doing the right thing by letting Talon go?" she asked. "You need him, right?"
His mercury eyes seared her. "I think you need to listen to what your grandmother told you, Sunshine. Follow your heart."
"How did you know about that?"
He gave her a hint of a smile. "I know lots of things."
This was a very spooky man. She wondered if he was a missing member of the Addams family.
Acheron turned on his heel and walked out her door.
Sunshine stood there for several minutes, debating what she should do about Talon.
But in the end, she knew what her heart demanded she do...
She'd asked Psyche if it were possible to summon a goddess. She wasn't sure if Psyche had been honest, but there was only one way to find out.
"Artemis," she said out loud. "I summon you to human form."
Nothing happened.
There was no sound, no great flash of light.
Nothing.
Depressed, she started for her bedroom.
"Who are you? And why have you called for me?"
She froze at the sound of the peeved, thickly accented voice behind her.
Turning around, she saw an incredibly tall, beautiful woman standing by her sofa. Artemis had long, curly auburn hair that spiraled around the face of an angel and vibrant green eyes that didn't look happy to be here.
The goddess was dressed in a long, white sheathlike dress and stood with her hands on her hips.
"Are you Artemis?"
"Gee, let me think. Did you call for Artemis or for Peter Pan?"
Well, Artemis was definitely not a late-night person. She gave a whole new meaning to the word cranky. "I called for Artemis."
"Then since I'm not dressed in green and have the body of a woman and not some prepubescent boy, I guess I must be she."
"Are you always this irritable?"
"Are you always this stupid?" She crossed her arms over her chest and gave Sunshine a withering glare. "Look, little human, I have no patience for you. You're not one of my subjects and that medallion around your neck greatly offends me. So tell me what you want so I can tell you to go bugger off."
This was not looking good. Talon's boss-lady was a serious bitch. "I wanted to ask you if I could get Talon's soul back from you."
She cocked her head at the question. "You mean Speirr of the Morrigantes? The Celtic chieftain I snagged away from the Morrigan?"
"Yes."
"No."
"No?" Sunshine asked in disbelief.
"Is there an echo? No, human, his soul belongs to me and you can't have it."
"Why not?"
"Because I said so."
Sunshine was aghast. Furious at her too. Artemis would never be voted Miss Congeniality. The goddess needed some personal-relationship seminars. "Well, that just makes it official then, doesn't it?"
Artemis arched a haughty brow. "Little girl, have you any idea who or what you're dealing with?"
Sunshine took a deep breath and prayed for patience. She couldn't afford to lose her temper with the person who happened to own Talon's soul. Not if she wanted it back.
Not to mention the small fact that as a goddess, Artemis could probably wish her dead if she made her mad enough.
"I know, Artemis. I'm sorry. I don't mean to offend you. I am in love with Talon and I want us to have a future together. I would do anything to keep him with me. Can you not understand that?"
Artemis's face softened a degree, as if she could relate. "Yes, I understand."
"Then can I-"
"The answer is still no."
"Why?"
"Because nothing in this world is ever free. If you want his soul back you have to earn it or pay for it."
"How?"
Artemis shrugged. "You can't. You have nothing I want or value, therefore you have nothing to barter with."
"Oh, come on, are you serious?"
"Deadly." Artemis flashed into vapor and vanished.
Ugh! Sunshine wanted to throttle the woman. How could she be so selfish?
"Artemis!" she called out before she could stop herself. "You seriously suck!"
Closing her eyes, Sunshine sighed. What was she to do now? There was no way that selfish heifer would ever let go of Talon's soul.
What were they going to do?
Amanda Devereaux-Hunter woke up at seven-thirty in the morning. She glanced absently at the clock and closed her eyes, then jerked to full alertness as the time dawned on her.
It was seven-thirty a.m. and her infant daughter, Marissa, hadn't awakened for her five o'clock feeding.
Not quite panicked, but definitely concerned about her baby, she got up and went to the nursery in the room beside hers.